Restaurants

It would grieve me, I have to say.
I can't stand waste, so I'd probably go off somewhere private and have a little weep!

My toddlers would have eaten what they could of a pasta dish at 18 months, they loved pasta. Is the baby struggling with solids? What would they normally eat when they go out?

No, definitely all fine with solids. Too many distractions around the restaurant to eat and too many of mummy’s chips to be interested in the pasta!

Ouch! I thought it bad enough when we treated my brother 's family at a pricy restaurant abroad and he insisted on letting his 6yr old order an adult portion. Of course he didn't eat it. We still had to pay - grrr.
You are NBU but you should let it go and refrain from bringing it up until next time

Yes I would be grieved too. Why Doesn't baby share mummy's lunch if mummy didn't bring baby food with her. Isn't that the norm?

My Dd ordered scrambled eggs on toast for her 9mo baby recently. The baby polished off the lot and ate some of our meal, too!

It's sometimes hard to tell whether or not children will eat when you go out. I agree that waste is annoying but assuming this isn't a regular event, I wouldn't think any more about it.

Mummy had chips but tried to get the child to eat pasta, that's cruelty!

Seriously, at 18 mths its difficult, if it is a main meal for the child sharing is difficult, taking your own is hassle, most restaurants do child friendly meals, around here they charge £4.50 or so but some have kids eat free.

Posh restaurants are not child friendly ( whatever they say ) but if you ask nicely they will do a simple special for the child.

As a mum I would have asked for a second plate and given the toddler some of my meal. But let it go Poshspice and don't waste time and enjoy feeling annoyed.

I d have asked for a doggy bag at that price
That’s ridiculous but the problem is if nothing is said and you just pay up she won’t realise how silly it is most pasta dishes are full of sauces and bits and pieces and not at all suitable fir a baby
Most restaurants I go in would just give you a small plate of plain pasta if asked, better still to have taken her own or ask for a small plate and give her some chips which is what she had anyway

Whilst I would be happy to pay the cost of the meal I would be very cross at the waste of the food and for the parents not to have asked for a small plate for the child they would surely know the needs of their child.
I would have taken a jar of food along with us as back up and ask it to be warmed through if needed.

Didn't they have a children's menu? At 18 months old we would have ordered food for the child and, I confess, as a family of gannets, both DC and DGC would have hoovered it up at that age, but we would have ordered from the children's menu.

Yes I would have asked for an extra plate and shared. Toddlers can be unpredictable though sometimes eating sometimes not.
Maybe next time you could offer to share PoshSpice to prevent wastage.

We always just take a baby plate and give DGS some of ours as he has a tiny appetite, unfortunately preferring to drink pints of milk ?
When he used to eat a bit more we ordered from the children's menu a couple of times but it was 90% wasted.
He mostly eats olives and garlic bread at the moment when we go out to eat - maybe a couple of spoonfuls of lasagne if we're lucky, no chips, no ice cream - he's very well behaved though, mostly ?
Of course, at nursery he eats curry, naan bread, sausage rolls, birthday cake, sandwiches, sweet and sour chicken, ice cream - basically anything ?
So no, you are NBU imo ?

Lol even with my 9 year old grandaughter, we still ask for a plate because she eats like a bird, my other grandddaughter however, would have probably polished off that pasta at 12 months, and then been after me chips!
I wouldn't worry, if you had a good time, don't let £9 sour an evening, and if it did, then perhaps make sure and split the bill next time.
I'm broke but I'd happily pay £90 for pasta just to spend some time with my family, but they all live too far. xx
I do get why you were annoyed though. xx

As Granny, I always ordered something the GC could share with me.

Par for the course these days I’m afraid. My lot will order 2 lots of chicken nuggets and chips for 2 kids who will barely lick a chip never mind eat one

I agree, a complete waste of money. I would be upset too.
Not many children of that age will eat an adult size portion of anything- there always some that will of course.
Not very many restaurants seem to offer a children’s menu, to be honest I have a very small appetite, and would happily buy anything off the children’s menu it would suit me fine!

When our children were young we used to given them a side plate with lots of little bits and pieces off of our plates. Gave them choice and variety and avoided the children's menus which are usually a grim choice of sausages or chicken nuggets with chips.

I wonder if they would have ordered it if they had been paying,

Hmm.maybe it was a bit over top pricewise?couldnt they have taken their own toddlerfood?theres some really nice 'posher' & organic ones these days& most places will warm your own baby/toddler food.or took child a lunchbox&just told restaraunt its "because of allergies"-(my grandaughter actually DOES have allergies,but am sure a little white lie on your occasion would be fine?)

Next time suggest she gets to sample a little of everyone’s that way you don’t pay for her and she gets to experience different foods

If the place doesn’t do a children’s menu,I always try asking for a starter size in the food they like from the adult menu,and that’s usually successful and much cheaper

My grandaughter(and one of my grandsons too till recently)are allergic to dairy&soya so have to take their own lunchbox wherever they go.usually thats fine nowhere has complained yet.

I would have picked a place more child friendly with an actual child menu.